After Sandy, Tow Trucks Prey On Battered Cars

NEW YORK CITY — As if drivers of storm-battered cars didn’t already have a tough break, they now face a new threat: tow truck drivers.

With the city still reeling from Hurricane Sandy, some enterprising tow truck operators have taken the opportunity to steal storm-damaged cars right off the street and then charge owners exorbitant fees when they attempt to retrieve their vehicles, cops said.

The issue is so serious that the NYPD has formed a special task force to investigate tow truck drivers who steal cars or defraud drivers following the storm, Deputy Commissioner Paul J. Browne said in a statement Wednesday.

Overall, crime dropped or remained flat following the storm, Browne said.

But police have made 226 arrests for storm-related crimes, primarily burglary, which is up 2 percent compared to this time last year, he added.

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